Lightning signs tough-guy David Koci

Tampa Bay signed unrestricted free agent David Koci to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay $525,000 if he is in the NHL. The 6-foot-6, 238-pounder from Prague split time last season between AHL Norfolk and Rockford and the Blackhawks. While with Chicago, Koci had 68 penalty minutes in 18 games. The heavyweight has 156 penalty minutes in 27 career NHL games.

Here's more from the team announcement:

The 26-year-old finished out the season as an alternate captain for the Admirals, registering two assists and 57 penalty minutes in 21 games with Norfolk. In 65 games with the Admirals during the previous two seasons, the fan favorite has three assists and 280 penalty minutes.

Koci also spent seven games with the Rockford IceHogs last season, registering 25 penalty minutes. In 266 career AHL games with Rockford, Norfolk and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Koci has three goals and 22 assists with 1,065 penalty minutes. Koci made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in 2006-07, going scoreless with 88 penalty minutes in nine games. His first 42 penalty minutes all came in his first game on March 31, 2007, at Phoenix.

He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round, 146th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.